]]>Tue, 05 Aug 2014 19:09:44 GMThttps://www.pettswoodrunners.org/news/mob-match-24th-july-2014On Thursday 24th July 175 runners from Petts Wood Runners, Orpington Road Runners, New Eltham Joggers, Bexley Athletics Club and Bromley Vets Running club met at Old Elthamians Rugby club to compete in a Mob Match.Cook & Matthews were present providing discounts on running shoes & apparel and also providing spot prizes of shoe bags to the runners.It was a very pleasant evening and by all accounts everybody enjoyed it despite it being quite warm, but that made the cold beer afterwards all the more pleasurable.Orpington Road Runners won the mob match, although Petts Wood had the biggest Mob!Results can be found via the link below.

]]>Wed, 23 Apr 2014 20:37:02 GMThttps://www.pettswoodrunners.org/news/siggys-speedy-shorts-7th-13th-april“Mo” is for Motivation, Mobot and Mo Farah This was the week of the biggest annual running event in the UK, with much excitement and speculation as to who would win the Virgin London Marathon on Sunday, 13th April. With a strong field for both elite male and female competitors, it was always going to be a challenge for much-loved and respected British runner Mo Farah to make headlines. On the day, Wilson Kipsang won the men’s race in 02:04:29, breaking the course record, and Edna Kiplagat won the women’s race in 02:20:21. Mo Farah came 8th in 02:08:21 – a very respectable time for someone who has switched from being a 5,000m and 10,000m Olympic champion to being an elite marathon-runner – a very different kind of racing. More about the VLM later, but first to the weekly round-up of the achievements of PWR parkrunners: Bromley parkrun is up and running again, and with the ground firming up and the weather getting a little warmer, 7 PWRs achieved new PBs, as shown below. In addition to this, Alan Niblock came 4th at Shorne parkrun in a PB time of 19:29 and Suzy Capella set a new PB at Great Lines parkrun, which is directly next to Medway hospital (just in case…). Well done guys! There was also a bit of parkrun tourism, with David Allison deciding to run somewhere unpronounceable.Bromley parkrun: 5 Simon Dahdi 00:18:09 – New PB! 19 David Mason 00:19:35 – New PB! 20 Paul Leng 00:19:36 21 Cliff Barnett 00:19:36 – New PB! 26 Andrew Breese 00:19:44 30 Stuart Scott 00:20:15 59 George Howell 00:21:26 – New PB! 61 Robert White 00:21:29 66 Kathryn Suckling 00:21:42 70 Viral Tanna 00:21:54 – New PB! 94 Alex Neocleous 00:22:36 113 Martin Cunningham 00:23:14 118 James Roberts 00:23:20 159 Vera Simms 00:24:44 – New PB! 164 Vassilis Sakizlis 00:24:51 – New PB! 184 Ray Sievey 00:25:22 188 Mark Doyle 00:25:34 207 Chris Summers 00:26:23 231 Joe Lenane 00:27:31Greenwich parkrun: 7 Jamie Fernandes 00:20:38 13 Rob Laing 00:21:25 50 Sonja Laing 00:24:53Crystal Palace parkrun: 125 Anne Potter 00:34:24Orpington parkrun: 50 Ka Sing Tung 00:26:31 59 Fiona Abiola-Musa 00:27:38 82 Wendy Tung 00:29:35Llyn Llech Owain parkrun: 33 David Allison 00:27:10Shorne Woods parkrun: 4 Alan Niblock 00:19:29 – New PB!Great Lines parkrun, Medway: 122 Suzy Capella 00:34:44 – New PB!Reigate Priory parkrun: 103 John O’Toole 00:27:50 111 Nicholas Philpot 00:28:30Marathon madness! OK, so more about the Virgin London Marathon. 22 PWRs spent the last 4 months or so training in pretty challenging weather conditions – rain, wind, cold – for what is arguably the most famous marathon in the world (OK, so New York and Boston marathons might also claim that accolade) – and what did they get on the day? Glorious sunshine, a gentle cooling breeze – at least to start with – and not a drop of rain. For some, it was perfect running weather, for others possibly a tad warm, but given what we could have had, we can’t complain. To give a flavour of the atmosphere, there was the usual buzz of excitement on Blackheath at the start. It was quite chilly but sunny, and if you stood in the sun, you could feel its warmth. The queues for the portaloos were massive, as ever, but time passed quickly and any pre-marathon nerves eased if you decided to chat with the person in front of or behind you. There was a notable cooling breeze for the first few miles of the marathon, but that breeze became less noticeable the closer you got to central London. However, for much of the marathon it was possible to find a shady patch of road to run along. Water was plentiful en route, and if you didn’t bring enough gels, many of the thousands of supporters handed out jelly-babies to help you keep your energy levels up. The support was unbelievable and once you came out of the underpass for the last 3 miles of the race (only a parkrun to go…), the noise from supporters was almost deafening. 22 PWRs enjoyed and suffered the ups and downs of the VLM, some achieving PBs and good for age times for next year’s event. However, as anyone who has ever run a marathon knows, the times are very individual and depend on many factors, including age, experience, whether you’re running it to get a good time for you or just wanting to enjoy the atmosphere and vibe of the event. Just completing a marathon is an achievement in itself, with most runners having to battle fatigue and pain at some point during it. The VLM would not be the amazing event it is without the supporters, and PWRs did not disappoint on that level, either. There were shouts of support from PWRs from the beginning right to the very end, with the usual PWR flags and groupies gathered just before and on Tower Bridge. Some PWR supporters appeared and re-appeared at various points en route, almost completing a marathon themselves. The shouts of support were invaluable to the runners, giving a much-needed boost. So – to runners and supporters alike: thank you and well done! Unfortunately, one runner, 42-year-old Robert Berry, collapsed and died just after crossing the finish line. This will be upsetting news for anyone, particularly fellow runners, and our thoughts are with Robert’s family at this time. Below are the results of PWRs who completed the VLM, with many raising much-needed funds for several charities – again, well done, guys! Men’s Results: Brian O’Connor 02:51:49 Simon Bryant 02:52:44 Oliver Hitch 03:13:48 Steve Jeffrey 03:27:50 Johnny Gill 03:47:04 James Gibson 04:00:52 Robert Fisher 04:02:31 David Fordyce 04:08:40 James Macdonald 04:27:22 Mark Bentley 04:41:05 Richard Dunstan 04:59:04 Jonathan Hummerson 05:31:41Ladies’ Results: Rebecca Cawley 03:31:17 Hannah Roberts 03:36:16 Jenny Leng 03:39:13 Jane Branch 03:41:29 Sigrid Robson 03:47:34 Paula Dimond 03:53:40 Alison Macowan 04:03:56 Suzanne Croft 04:47:55 Sherry Bevan 05:33:27 Jane Thomas 05:43:49 So, again, that’s all, folks! Sorry for the delay in getting this report out, but there were quite a few results to look up! Happy running and happy resting if you’ve done the VLM. ]]>Wed, 19 Mar 2014 11:19:18 GMThttps://www.pettswoodrunners.org/news/jos-jogging-journal-15-16-march This weekend was a hive of running and racing activity for most PWR’s in some way or another. Many PWR’s chose to attend parkrun but numbers were down slightly due to the number of races this Sunday. Bromley parkrun is now back for the foreseeable future, the park has dried out and while there is no catering this seemed to be a popular choice. PWR’s also ventured to Orpington and Greenwich and Rachelle Grant held the PWR flag high in Australia at her new home parkrun in Brisbane. Clearly the break from running at Bromley has had an impact on our fitness, as Nicholas Philpot, John O’Toole, Lucy Coe, Clare Fisher and Viral Tanna all set new PB’s in the glorious sunshine. This was the 2nd week in a row for PB's for Viral Tanna and John O Toole. Will they both make it three in a row?? Bromley parkrun 13 Oliver HITCH 00:19:21 20 Tim SPRINGETT 00:19:52 23 Gary VAUGHAN 00:20:01 30 David MASON 00:20:56 50 Kathryn SUCKLING 00:21:47 56 Murat ASKIN 00:21:56 70 Viral TANNA 00:22:32 NEW PB 76 Stephen FAULKNER 00:22:49 80 Sian VAUGHAN 00:22:57 94 Robert Scott WHITE 00:23:26 100 Jon AITKEN DYTE 00:23:44 108 James ROBERTS 00:23:56 144 Alex NEOCLEOUS 00:25:34 149 Vera SIMMS 00:25:48 156 David ALLISON 00:25:57 165 Chris SUMMERS 00:26:21 188 Matt JONES 00:27:14 193 John O'TOOLE 00:27:23 NEW PB 195 Jonathan BOTTOMER 00:27:29 199 Clare FISHER 00:27:56 NEW PB 205 Emma HAY 00:28:05 213 Nicholas PHILPOT 00:28:43 NEW PB 214 Robyn STUBBS 00:28:51 220 Susan HANNEY 00:29:15 221 Helena BROADWAY 00:29:15 236 Lucy COE 00:30:05 NEW PB 258 Victoria SIMPSON 00:32:04 264 Dawn DREWETT 00:32:29 281 Joanne ADAMS 00:34:44 Greenwich parkrun 11 Rob LAING 00:20:36 50 Sonja LAING 00:24:4994 Richard LAING 00:31:18 Orpington Parkrun 11 Andrew BREESE 00:21:16 15 George HOWELL 00:22:40 35 Ka Sing TUNG 00:26:00 46 Fiona ABIOLA-MUSA 00:28:20 61 Wendy TUNG 00:30:54 Bunyaville parkrun 73 Rachelle GRANT 00:35:14

There was a choice of events for Sunday, either the Spitfire 20 for those of you in marathon training mode, or the lesser distance Swanley KFL or Grand Prix Knole Park 10k. David Mason travelled to WImbledon to run the Wimbledon Common half marathon and Adele Murrell, John O'Toole and Richard Allen sped round the hills of the Crystal Palace 10k. The sun came out for all events and there were club records smashed, brilliant team results for KFL and lots of friendly competition at the Grand Prix. Well done to everyone who ran on Sunday. Wimbledon Common Half Marathon 86 David Mason Msen 01:37:35

After the wettest winter on record, it seems that spring has finally sprung and the last couple of Tuesday club-runs have been rain-free. The road-running season has well and truly started with the first few half-marathons last weekend, conveniently nestling into the training plan of many PWRs preparing for the various spring marathons. More about those later…ParkrunBromley parkrun has remained cancelled while Norman Park slowly recovers from the intense flooding it was subjected to, but the good news is that it may resume again this weekend – keep an eye on the Bromley parkrun Facebook page and Twitter account for updates. Fewer PWRs than usual did a parkrun last weekend. This may have something to do with a certain PWR Grand Prix half-marathon last Sunday.There were several new PBs this week, with Martin Cunningham and Helena Broadway having great runs at Dulwich. At Greenwich, it appears that Rob and Sonja Laing paced young Richard Laing to a new PB. At Orpington, Chris Summers and Paul Marshall also achieved PBs. Well done to all of you! Burgess parkrun:12 Matt Jones 00:21:2317 Jonathan Bottomer 00:21:5348 David Allison 00:25:5369 John O’Toole 00:27:30Cambridge parkrun:4 Brian O’Connor 00:17:49

Orpington parkrun:5 Johnny Gill 00:20:1021 Alan Niblock 00:22:59 50 Jeremy Benson 00:27:0751 Chris Summers 00:27:13 – New PB!67 Lizzie Howells 00:29:5369 Paul Marshall 00:30:16 – New PB!﻿Half Marathon Bonanza!﻿ The main event for many PWRs this weekend was Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon on Sunday, 2nd March. It has been a popular race for several years and this year’s event did not disappoint. Organisation, marshalling and support were all excellent, and apart from a stiff breeze greeting you at the top of Spring Hill, the weather played ball, too. Every runner was given a luminously yellow long-sleeved technical shirt before the start, something that will ensure you are spotted on the road day and night. Over 1,600 runners completed the race, including 48 PWRs, for many of whom the race formed part of the club’s Grand Prix competition. Now, the Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon course could for most part be described as gently undulating. However, there is one infamous hill plonked right in the middle, around mile 6. It has a gentle-sounding name of Spring Hill but it’s anything but gentle with over a mile of continuous steep-ish to steep incline. Every runner has their own way of tackling the hill but one good sign that you’re near the top is the sound of the drum-beat from the percussion band stationed there. It’s a very welcome sound! Apart from this, many spectators helped to keep runners’ sugar levels up with jelly-babies and orange slices. The beat of a percussion band that initially got the runners into a rhythm at the start and later near the end also helped to keep spirits up. The results at the top are a little confusing but the first 3 male finishers were Simon Fox, who hadn’t officially entered as a PWR but definitely is one now, with a time of 1:19:28, Simon Bryant with 1:25:54 and Stephen Robson with 1:28:33. The first 3 female finishers were Geraldine Shaer with a time of 1:34:26, Rebecca Cawley with 1:36:28 followed closely by Jenny Leng with 1:36:30. Rebecca and Jenny ran the race together but their competitive sides got the better of them at the end…Geraldine, Rebecca and Jenny won 3rd prize in the female team competition, and Geraldine won a prize for being the 3rd lady in her age group.Geraldine equalled her finishing time from last year’s half marathon to the second, and she won exactly the same prizes as she did last year, too. That’s consistency for you! Both Rebecca and Jenny achieved half marathon PBs, which is impressive given the challenging nature of the course.

A big well done to everyone who completed the race, particularly to the leading male and female finishers and prize winners. A great result for the club!A list of all 48! PWRs and their results can be found hereTwo other PWRs travelled west to complete the Reading Half Marathon on Sunday – another popular and well-attended event. Tim Springett and his son, Mike, both achieved half marathon PBs of 1:32:22 and 1:40:13 respectively, so well done guys! Hopefully everyone will have recovered from post-race muscle soreness and fatigue by time this round-up is posted. It has been a great weekend for PWR. Onwards and upwards!

]]>Fri, 28 Feb 2014 10:47:06 GMThttps://www.pettswoodrunners.org/news/jos-jogging-journal-23-24-februaryA fair amount of ‘jogging’ activity to report this week. With Bromley parkrun still closed (fingers crossed for a return on the 8th March) Dulwich and Orpington seem to be the parkrun of choice for the majority of us. Dulwich is a fast flat 3 lap course and this week promised PB’s to Martin Cunningham, Viral Tanna and Jeremy Benson. Simon Dahdi visited for the first time but managed to knock 40 seconds off his previous 5k PB and I expect he will soon duck under the 18 minute mark- all those track sessions are paying off, well done Simon. For the mud lovers, Johnny Gill managed a sub 20 minute PB at Orpington and Jenny Leng a new PB at Hilly Fields. The rest of us attended a variety of other parkruns, some sticking with old favourites and some travelling further afield for a parkrun tourism fix. Bexley parkrun135 Jo Gambell 35:29Crystal Palace parkrun186 Helena Broadway 30:57Dulwich parkrun13 Simon Dahdi 18:0637 Martin Andrew Cunningham 19:50 New PB!76 Viral Tanna 22:36 New PB!129 Jeremy Benson 25:58 New PB!138 Helen Hart 27:05Edinburgh parkrun270 David Fordyce 28:02

Tonbridge parkrun44 David Allison 26:06As we move into spring, the start of the half marathon season is slowly appearing, and there were three races attended this weekend by PWRs. Robyn Stubbs and Paula Dimond ran the inaugural Hampton Court Half Marathon which sadly fell short of the 13.1 distance due to a marshalling error early on. This was Robyn’s first half in her training for the London Marathon so well done to Robyn. Keep up the training! Martin Cunningham ran at the Headcorn Half marathon, this is a small new event run by a company called ‘Running and Riding’ who primarily organise cycling sportives and duathlons. It starts in the small village of Headcorn heading out into the countryside and back. Martin placed first in his age category and 24th overall- let us know what you thought of this new race, Martin. Murat Askin travelled to Portsmouth to take on the Coastal Half Marathon. This sounds like a lovely course along the seafront, including beach and parkland. Again, it would be great to hear what you thought of this race.

Many other PWR’s were also seen out on Sunday morning with the marathon training groups in full force, others training for half marathons and a group who got together at High Elms to run the proposed new Orpington 10k course. And of course, thanks to Karen who always manages to be there with a cup of tea and a piece of cake on a Sunday, just when you need it! Happy running!]]>